Hello all!

My girl and I are thinking of visiting Bonaire to kitesurf in Nov. I have a few questions for you all:

1) What size kite for Nov? I'm 180lbs. I think 16-18M flat? She is 115lbs. (12m flat?)

2) Is Lac Bay still open for kitesurfing? Is there a threat that it will be closed?

I've been seeing some talk about a ban at Lac Bay. Can someone please tell me what's going on so I don't spend lots of $$$ to come there and sit on the beach? Thank you and good luck with kiting!

V
Chicago Kitesurfing
www.chicagokitesurfing.com

See http://www.kitesurfbonaire.com

Hi Jake,

Thanks. I saw that site already and figured the winds in November were lighter than normal (hence the big kite choice). I saw several posts on the messageboards that it is possible that kiting may be banned. Is this true?

V
Chicago Kitesurfing
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com

You could also check http://www.bonairewindsurfing.com/conditions.html
for more wind info.

Rumors back and forth about banning or posting certain areas to separate the windsurfers, kiteboarding, and fisherman keep circulating. If there is a ban, kiteboarding would be the loser since windsurfing is well established here.

The folks on the KiteSurfBonaire site really would like to see both sports co-exist in Lac Bay peacefully. You might try contacting them directly to see what the latest take on the situation is.

I am surprised to see so much Kite development on Lac Bay. This will definately reduce windsurfing business.

Having been all over the world kiteboarding (previous to that windsurfing), and more recently Bonaire, I can say that Bonaire is top notch, maybe the best I've come across (at least by my criteria: steady/regular wind, warm water, standing + deep sea area, lack of crowd factor, friendly people, good infrastructure, all required services, good flight access).

Kiteboarding in Bonaire = Lac Bay, since there really aren't any other viable alternative beaches (some might mention Pink Beach, but it is offshore wind, and therefore dangerous).

If you want to see historical wind data for November in Bonaire (Flamingo Airport - reliable source), goto http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/onlineprod/drought/xmgr.html

- and select Global Summary of the Day, Time Series. I did a rapid search for November 2002 and November 2001, looks like 80%+ over 12 knots.

Kites, you only need two really - Big and Medium, whatever that would be for your definition (me: 14.5 and 11.5 flat). No real need for super high-wind kites under 11.0.

Ban situation - check with locals, mixed reports; cannot understand why the windsurf schools do not offer kiteboarding lessons, since every day I was there, at least once a day visitors were asking where they could get lessons.

Steve

Well, with the recent thread on kiteforum talking about the ban being for real, I think I will not be coming to Bonaire. Thank goodness I didn't get my tix yet! Unfortunately, one of my friends, Kobi, did. He will be there early Dec.

Hopefully you guys will have worked out the problems by then.

V
Chicago Kitesurfing
www.chicagokitesurfing.com

Apparently you can kite surf anywhere but at Lac Bay on Bonaire - that's the only area affected by the ban. Witte Pan, in the southern part of the island, has been suggested as a reasonable location.

Jake

The areas proposed are offshore winds so hope the government provides rescue boats..otherwise VERY dangerous.

Ann

Ron, I disagree..most kiters are windsurfers as well or have friends or spouses to sail. Although kiters will bring most of their own gear, if a shop sold kites and equipment,it would sell like hotcakes..this sport is growing sooo fast. Bonaire will never be a hot kite destination but it's certainly another tourist market to tap..or was.

Ann

I love all sports but happen to be a windsurfer. Most of my friends windsurf or kite. Few do both. I have kiter friends who have spouses who windsurf but now, will not come to Bonaire due to changes in Lac Bay's regs.

I am a guest in Bonaire and appreciate the opportunity to windsurf in paradise. But, I must say having windsurfed in offshore winds such as Aruba, it is essential a rescue boat is made available. So, if another area is proposed for kiting that has offshore winds, a rescue boat is needed in my eyes, to help with any newbie or anyone who might experience a problem. I could be wrong, as I do not kite, but am thinking as a windsurfer.

I am very familiar with the industry and have seen the tremendous growth of kiting. I have also heard about the accidents and bans all around the world. Personally I cannot comment since I do not kite. My reference is as a windsurfer.

Peace to all.

Ann

Annie,

I think you know the reality of the Bonaire Government funding a rescue boat is next to nil considering they barely have money for things they deem more essential (like salaries of government employees, etc.). It's not going to happen anytime soon if at all. If a rescue boat for kite surfers comes along, it will have to be with private funds.

Jake

Even Maui recognizes the need to keep tourism going and are now lifting the ban of flying near the airports!!! Hows that for working with the local authorities?! Whoever is banning kiting in beautiful Bonaire is a FOOL and should read and observer and learn what others are doing.

Kitesurfing builds relationships and tourism. Please take special note of the following phrase:

"...and Mauians stand to benefit from the increased numbers showing up to play with kites in our warm waters and steady winds."

Bonaire can benefit as well.

---begin---
In March 2002, after 2 1/2 years of discussions and negotiations,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials granted Hawaii
Kiteboarding Association (HKA) members a waiver to the 40 year-old
regulations restricting kite flying within 5 miles of an airport and
kites weighing over 5 pounds. The FAA waiver stipulates no
kiteboarding at the end of runway #2 in Spreckelsville. Otherwise,
there are few restrictions within this 5-mile airport zone as to
where we can practice. We have voluntarily created a safety buffer
zone between the different ocean users by primarily staying downwind
of windsurfing and canoe paddling. The sport continues to grow here
and worldwide, and Mauians stand to benefit from the increased
numbers showing up to play with kites in our warm waters and steady
winds.

Since having obtained the FAA waiver, HKA has maintained the waiver
and works closely with FAA and Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at
Kahului International Airport to enforce the waiver stipulations and
thereby stay in good standing with these agencies. This waiver allows
us to kiteboard on the north shore of Maui and must be renewed every
two years. Both FAA and ATCT acknowledge the successful efforts by
HKA to maintain the waiver during the past 18 months; nonetheless,
these agencies have indicated they plan to rescind the waiver in
about 30 days.

Almost 4 years to the day, when FAA enforced its regulations and
halted all kiteboarding along Maui?s north shore in September 1999,
we are now faced with FAA rescinding the waiver HKA worked so very
hard to obtain and even harder to maintain. We are in negotiations
with Maui County, FAA, and ATCT to see what can be done to keep the
waiver so that recreational kiteboarding will not be affected.

Please support our efforts and rejoin HKA Maui and tell your friends
who are not members to financially support our efforts to keep the
sport on Maui.

Also, please help us enforce the "NO KITEBOARDING" ZONE at the end of
the runway in Spreckelsville & NO KITEBOARDING AFTER SUNSET anywhere
on the North Shore of Maui.

Please help HKA help you keep this sport alive and well on Maui.

For More Information conatct

Martin Kirk
HKA Maui
President
PO BOX 790685
Paia, Hawaii 96779
808.280.0015

"I think you know the reality of the Bonaire Government funding a rescue boat is next to nil considering they barely have money for things they deem more essential"

These people obviously would like to see some tourism dollars. Diving and windsurfing, alone, don't seem to be cutting it, if they can't afford one boat to keep their citizens safe. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. It should be mandatory for the govt. to provide proper safety to its citizens. There's no "coast guard" or boating authority? If not, how can they ban kiting on the water?

At the end of the day we were lucky here in Bonaire to have had a bay like Lac Bay. Pretty much perfect conditions for learning how to kite. The result of knowing who's who on a small island managed to get a sport 'prohibited' for 'an idefinite period'in the bay. A very sad moment but it does not stop us. We are setting things up at Pink Beach & White Sands. Not perfect for teaching by a long way and yes, there will be less kiters coming to Bonaire because of it. We still have faith and hope that things will change in the future. All kiters need to show how this sport will develope in the for good of all..!
www.kitesurfbonaire.com

Vytas,

Lac Bay, the only place where Kiting was banned, is an inland bay (filled with sea grass, and the ban, at least in part, has been stated to be for environmental reasons, the other part for safety). And in theory, to enforce the ban, they just need to wait at the only good exit point to nab "law breakers".

And the argument about tourism dollars has been used by everyone wanting to convince the Bonaire Government to do things differently. So far it has rarely worked (major exception has been the airport renovation).

Hagen's the guy to talk to about alternate locations for Kite surfing on/around Bonaire, and I know he's been working hard to keep the sport going, even when faced with problems like the Lac Bay Kiting ban.

Jake

Well, I rode in off shore winds mostly by myself for a week in March. Great winds, great water, and did a bunch of diving, as well. Had a great time, but after seeing Lac Bay, I couldn't believe the epic conditions there for kiting. I heard while on the island there were accidents involving kiters and that's why the ban, but maybe that was a story someone made up to make it seem more dangerous.

I think Bonaire should open up a certification where if someone has demonstrated safe riding and knows what they are doing, they could be allowed to kite there. Its a shame since 95% of the bay was empty except for a few poleboarders right at the rental place.

Sadly it is not a story made up. Several of our windsurfing guests had accidents with kite surfers,and some more nearly accidents, nothing mayor but still, not a nice experience. And don't forget, there are many windsurfing children in the bay as well.
Lac Bay is perhaps a little small for both sports and as the windsurfers - and not to forget the local fisher men - are there for many years ......